After questions about the private lines of Chanel and Dior, I think it’s time to see how we fare with everyone’s darling Guerlain.
Saturday Question #170:
What Is Your Favorite Guerlain L’Art & La Matière?
Do you love any of them? Too many or not at all? Do you own them? Do you wear them?
Have you tried any of the new ones that they released last year?
My Answer
My most favorite perfume from the line, Cruel Gardenia, is from pre-reformulation time. I was so scared when I learned about the upcoming repackaging that I bought a backup bottle. Recently, I tried a new version at a store: without comparing it side-by-side with the one that I have, I can’t tell how much it has changed.
I smelled several new perfumes released in 2022, but since I’m not an agarwood fan, I didn’t give them any skin time, so I didn’t form a definitive impression of them. Anyway, I have at least two perfumes in the line that I would buy before any of the new ones.
How about you?
Undina's Looking Glass 
Rose Cherie and Santal Pao Rosa.
LikeLike
I tried both on paper. I’ll need to try it on my skin next.
LikeLike
My current favorite is Bois d’Arménie, but I also love SDV, Cuir Beluga Angélique Noire and Néroli Outrenoir. Of the newer ones since the repackaging, I like Rose Chérie and Santal Pao Rosa best.
LikeLike
I don’t remember BdA, but all others I like as well.
LikeLike
CUIR BELUGA!
Though I do have a few others Cuir Beluga is gorgeous.
LikeLike
It is!
LikeLike
I love so many of the L’Art et Matieres. My favorite is Angelique Noire. It’s unique and beautiful. I also love Spiriteuse Double Vanille, Neroli Outrenoir, Iris Torreife and Joyeuse Tuberose. I bought Rose Cherie last year and I do like it a lot, but it’s not my favorite of the L’Art line. I want to add Bois d’Armenie and Cuir Beluga to my collection (decants or the tube sample sizes, not more big bottles!) I have some samples of Cruel Gardenia and I enjoy it very much.
LikeLike
For now, my Angelique Noir decant will do, but I see that bottle in my future.
LikeLike
Another line I don’t know much about. I tried Iris Torrifié on a hot, humid day and liked the opening but found the drydown cloying. I wouldn’t mind trying it again in cooler weather.
LikeLike
Tell me you fell down the rabbit hole not too long ago without telling me… :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Touché!
LikeLike
The only one I own is a split of SDV.
I have sampled others but none have lodged in my olfactory memory other than Iris Ganache which was far too sweet & chocolatey for me
LikeLike
My SDV decant is done, and for now I’m content. But it was nice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love Iris Torrefie! It seemed a little shy at first, but then it was if my nose got tuned to it. IT and Samsara are my “best-dress” Guerlains, and IT is high on the overall list. I also love Bois d’Armenie and Embruns d’Ylang. I think Cruel Gardenia is intriguing and Undina, I often think of your posts when I wear it. I have those three and Cuir Beluga, Joyeuse Tubereuse, and Rose Barbare (I don’t connect with RB as well as I do with the others). I would say I have too many, because they all deserve to be worn more than I can. I got my FB’s as a result of the repackaging – and re-pricing – announcement. I have tested a couple of the new ones; so far I’d say if I buy any more, I would either get another Iris Torrefie or a decant of Anglique Noir. I keep testing Angelique Noir, and I like it more each time.
LikeLike
I like AN very much, and I’ll get more of it once I finish my decant. IT is nice, I’ll wear it from a sample that I have – and then we’ll see.
LikeLike
I’m a big fan of Iris Torreife also. At first I wasn’t sure about it, but I kept wearing it. It took time for me to appreciate the beautiful development it has and all the lovely notes that appear as it develops.
LikeLike
That was very much my experience!
LikeLike
I bought Myrrh et delires, and I love it, especially at Christmas. I even like the slightly ridiculous bulb sprayer.
I would have bought Neroli Outrenoir, but the last price change was a step too far for me. I think it’s beautiful and unique and I’d enjoy wearing it but for my own personal reasons I just can’t pay what they’re asking for it. I have several large decants, and I did buy the soap, so that will have to suffice. The soaps are so luxurious and super scented. If I could ever have a signature scent and buy one bottle every few years-then I might make the splurge.
Secretly hoping to find some at a discount site-dream on, I know !
Happy Canada Day and Happy 4th July!
LikeLike
I regret not buying Myrrh et delires when I could. I liked it, but I had a decant, so I waited… Oh, well… There are other great perfumes.
LikeLike
I don’t own any of these, but I have several samples from a lovely visit in January to the Guerlain boutique in Palm Beach. My favorites of those are Oeillet Pourpre, Herbes Troublantes, and Frenchy Lavande. I did really like the various roses too.
LikeLike
The only one of the three that you named that I tried was the lavender one: I liked it on paper more than on my skin, but I’ll try it again since I like lavender in perfumes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bois d’Armenie and Angelique Noire. though I am very behind with my testing of the line. There are a number of florals I see which are quite unknown to me. I rather like the look of Embruns d’Ylang, for example.
LikeLike
I also want to try Embruns d’Ylang. And those newer roses. Hoping not to like them too much :)
LikeLike
Embruns d’Ylang and Oeillet Pourpre are being discontinued, so if you want them I would buy them now.
LikeLike
Is Herbes Troublante being discontinued, too? I really wanted to try that one.
LikeLike
No, that one serms to be doing well.
LikeLike
I have Feve Gourmand, Angelique Noir, Herbs Troublantes, and Rose Barbare. Choosing between these is like choosing between children becuse they are all so different and what I think smell best in their own category! I liked Rose Barbare more than Rose Cherie and Santal Pao Rosa because of how unique it smells.
My next ones will likely be Tobacco Honey and Oud Nude. I’m still trying to decide between Neroli Outrenoir, Bois D’Armenie, and SDVanille for a full bottle as well. I like really liked Cuir Beluga but I felt like it faded too fast. Nothing else in the line really stood out as especially unique and exciting to me. I really wanted to like the Iris based scents but Iris and my nose don’t go together for some reason.
LikeLike